Baby Oliver is born

It has been two weeks since I have blogged. There is a very good reason for that. On Monday January 2, Katie(my daughter) called me to tell me she was in labor. The baby wasn't due until January 25. He wasn't early enough to cause concern.  I called my sister Shirley. She already knew that Katie was in labor and was ready to assist in any way that was needed. I managed to get a flight to Oakland. Katie and Bruce live in San Francisco. Shirley met me at the airport and drove me to the hospital. On the way Bruce texted me that Katie was 10 CM. That means it was time to push the baby out. We made it across the bay bridge and to the hospital in a short time. When I walked in Katie was just starting to push. From this point it is a long and complicated story. In the interest of privacy I won't tell it here.  To summarize. Oliver OBrien B--- (name excluded for privacy) was born at 8:45 PM on Monday January 2. He weighed 6 lb 5oz. He was a bit small from being 3 weeks early. But he didn't seem to care. He let out a lusty yell just like the bigger guys. Katie had some complications.  She spent a lot more time in the hospital than usual. Bruce and I were at her side throughout, helping care for the baby and for her. 
On Thursday, little Oliver was jaundiced. He needed to go under the bilirubin lights to help his body convert the jaundice to a form that can be excreted in the stools.  The whole family was moved upstairs to the peds unit where Oliver was put in an isolette under the lights. Katie was given a hospital bed to sleep in, even though she was no longer a patient. There was a cot for another person to sleep on.

Oliver under the lights

Oliver didn't seem to mind the lights a bit. Katie called it 'sunbathing in Rio' We took him out to nurse. We also supplemented him with formula to give him extra hydration and clear the jaundice.

The next morning, Friday Oliver was discharged and we packed up to go home. It was fun with the car seat time.

We went home to be a normal post partum family.But alas, that wasn't to be. Katie had some more complications and had to be readmitted to the hospital. They told her she could have Oliver with her as long as there was someone to care for him at all times since he wasn't technically a patient. As the week wore on, the 'A' team began to hit the wall. Lack of sleep is a tough thing to overcome.  So we asked the Aunties to come and help.

I put out an SOS to my sister Shirley and she rallied the troups. She came over and stayed the first night. 

The next three nights, Aunty Sue came. And helped. Katie was released from the hospital on Monday. We went home and finally began to feel like a normal post partum family
We got some help from Aunty Mary after Sue left.

On Thursday we had our first outing to a classic San Francisco neighborhood called Cortland. We settled the baby into his car seat. Threw the stroller in the back and off we went.  It was great to see Katie so healthy and normal, after all she had been through.

By Friday I knew it was time to go home. My next chemotherapy is scheduled for Tuesday. I want to feel rested and ready for that.

I did what I wanted to do. I helped Katie and Bruce and Oliver through  a very tough time. In the end we got a healthy newborn, a healthy Mom and a very grateful family. 
I want to thank all of you who helped us, whether in person or in prayer and support. I know that your prayers and loving support were a factor in the outcome of this.
The moment I found out I had cancer, my thought was of Katie. I told the doctor I had my first Grandchild due. He promised me I would be there. The timing was perfect. 6 days after my last chemo, Oliver was born. I didn't have another chemo due until two weeks later. I was able to be with K&B&O for almost two weeks. They needed every bit of my nursing knowledge and every bit of my gramma love and support. I felt completely normal the whole time. I made sure to get my sleep. That was the key ingredient.  I feel as healthy as I did before this all began. Monday will be a big day for me. I will have a battery of tests to see where we are with the treatment. It will show us whether we have eradicated the cancer. Im thinking that the results will be excellent.